Home : Statewide News : Police ask public’s help in Columbia County shooting death investigation

Jan 05,2007Police ask public’s help in Columbia County shooting death investigation by Cheryl McDermott

Police are seeking the public’s help as the homicide investigation continues into the shooting death of a Rainier, Oregon man found Monday in rural Columbia County.

The Columbia County Major Crimes Team, led by Oregon State Police (OSP) detectives and the Columbia County Sheriff's deputies, asks anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Sgt. Fred Testa with the OSP Criminal Investigations Division at 800.452.7888.

Police seek the public's help in the shooting death of Dennis Edward Mueller, 42, of Rainier. OSP photo.

A person walking near Apiary Road by Camp Wilkerson in Rainier discovered the body of Dennis Edward Mueller, 42, on January 1.Camp Wilkerson is a 280-acre secluded, forested park site located about 50 miles north of Portland.

Preliminary autopsy results revealed Mueller had been shot in the abdomen, and his death was ruled a homicide.Mueller was last seen on December 20 walking near his home.He was reported missing three days later.